Excellent topic Simple. Unfortunately, (for the Men) the polgamy reference in Sura Nisa 4:3 is a mistranslation in english and misinterpretation along with a 'lustful' fallacy developed by Men.

Allah makes it clear.....

[An-Nur 24.32] MARRY THOSE AMONG YOU WHO ARE SINGLE, and the virtuous ones among yourselves, male or female. if they are in poverty, Allah will give them means out of His grace. for Allah encompasseth all, and he knoweth all things.

Any excesses (i.e. polygamy, oppressing women, etc.) that were practiced in regards to females and marriage have now ENDED and those practices should cease.

[Al-Ahzab 33.50] O those who believe in the Prophet! ....ANY BELIEVING WOMAN WHO DEDICATES HER SOUL TO THE PROPHET IF THE PROPHET WISHES TO WED HER;- THIS ONLY FOR YOU, AND NOT FOR THE BELIEVERS / waimraatan muminatan in wahabat nafsaha lilnnabiyyi in arada alnnabiyyu an yastankihaha/ يَسْتَنكِحَهَا khalisatan/ خَالِصَةً laka min dooni almumineena

Sorry (ladies) gentlemen, Allah makes it clear you can nolonger practice excesses and marry all the women you want. The exclusive right to practice polygamy in its true sense was ONLY relegated to the Prophets of Allah

Now we can address Sura Nisa 4:3 in light of the truth.

Before we address Sura Nisa 4:3....

Allah continues to address the Men who still insist on 'slipping' by with 'exchanging' and changing their wife or wives for others.....*amazing Allah knows Men are lustful and rebellious*

[Al-Ahzab 33.52] It is not lawful for you (to marry more) women after this, NOR TO CHANGE THEM FOR (OTHER) WIVES, even though their beauty attract you, except any thy right hand should possess (as handmaidens). and Allah doth watch over all things.

It is Ma = NOT Taba = good/lawful Lakum =TO/For YOU to be given the Minna = favor/gift/blessing/benefit of Al Nisai = (get married to) Women Mathna = 2, Thulatha = 3, and Rubaa = 4 TIMES

IT IS NOT LAWFUL to divorce get married, divorce get married, divorce get married again and divorce and get married again (and in doing so leave a family behind EACH time!)

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Al Yatama does NOT mean 'orphan'....

“Al” (adataatarif) is a Definite Article أداة التعريف, used to give the meaning of ‘Most, All, Complete, Maximum, Whole, and to denote comprehensiveness, all aspects or categories of a subject, or to denote perfection and includes all degrees and grades.

Al-Insan/Al-Dahr 76.8] And for His love they feed the food to the miskeen / the needy (who is reduced to poverty) and the yateem / orphan and aseer / captive.

[Al-Fajr 89.17] No, No! but you honour not the orphans / al-yateema!

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mathna wa thulatha wa rubaAAa does not mean two three and four because two, three and four in Arabic are: ithnaan, thalatha and arbaa' and not mathna, thulatha and rubaa

ithnan means 2 thalatha means 3 arba’a means 4

Allah confirms the definitive use of ALL these cardinal / ordinal number references in the following ayahs

[Al-Fatir/Mala'ik 35.1] Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels, messengers with wings,- two/ mathna, or three/ thulatha, or four/ rubaAAa. He adds to Creation as He pleases. for Allah has power over all things.

[Al-Ma'idah 5.106] O you who believe! When death approaches any of you, (take) witnesses among yourselves when making bequests,- two / ithnani just men of your own

[An-Nur 24.58] O, you who believe those whom your right possess and those among you who have not reach puberty, ask permission from you three / thalatha times/repetitions / marratin

[Al-Baqarah 2.226] For those who take an oath for abstention from their wives, a waiting for four / arbaAAati

1) Do NOT take the the blessing of marriage and violate that blessing by marrying 2,3 & 4 Times
2) If you believe that you will be able to sustain your commitment then marry ONE Woman, indefinitely
3) Otherwise, WAIT until you can feel secure and trustworthy then take a wife

Sis arista, Salaam. Exalted Prophet only had one wife before prophethood. She died after he became prophet. Quran was downloaded in one night on to his heart/brain during her life. In revealation he was prohibited from any further merriages. Do we think he would have acted against Quran.

Salaam
i find it hard to believe that Mohammad (S) was given the exclusive right to practice polygammy.
He was an "Ab'd" and "Rasool", repeatedly He introduced himself as mere an Abd'Allah and the only difference was that His knoweldge was far beyond anyone as He was the recipient of Wahi. He not only recieved Wahi but also practiced and provided a living example of Quran.
I think the concession of Polygammy is general and only during the circumstances well described in Quran.However, i also feel that this Nikkah could be a "social contract" as well in order to provide shelter ( economic, social and moral) to the unfortunate females left behind in the society and in many cases had children also and either did not have or had very meager sources of sustenance._________________Taseer Cheema,MD
New York